1(1 



INSECTS OF SAMOA. 



absent in fifty-eight males and six females ; in a series of forty-eight specimens 

 of D. melissa tutuilae, all from Tutuila, it is complete in eleven males and 

 seven females, incomplete in twelve males and four females, and absent in thirteen 

 males and one female. That is to say, the hook, absent in 63 per cent, of 

 males of D. m. melittula, is developed to some extent in 64 per cent, of male D. 

 melissa tutuilae ; the difference in the females is not so great, and the numbers 

 are rather small. The difference in size between the two races is much more 

 striking than that of markings ; the maximum, mean, and minimum expanse 

 of thirty-five males of D. melissa tutuilae being 88, 80, and 71 mm. as against 

 78, 72, and 62 mm. for D. m. melittula, and of eleven females 86, 79, and 74 mm. 

 as against 78, 71, and 62 mm. for the same sex of the latter. 



As will be seen from the above figures, among captured specimens, males are 

 much commoner than females, though to a less extent than in D. m. melittula, 

 outnumbering them by only about three to one instead of by about five to one 

 as in the latter. The difference, although I do not think it probable, may 

 possibly be seasonal, since most of the specimens from Tutuila were captured 

 in August. If not seasonal, it is very interesting in view of the fact that the 

 proportions of the sexes in Hypolimnas bolina show an exactly opposite difference 

 in the two parts of Samoa, females being very much commoner in Western 

 Samoa than they are in Tutuila. 



D. melissa tutuilae is very common at low elevations in Tutuila, and pro- 

 bably throughout American Samoa. In habits the race exactly resembles 

 D. m. melittula, but even in flight is readily separated by its superior size. I 

 have no knowledge of the early stages. 



2 (c). Danaida (Tirumala) melissa angustata (Moore). 

 Tirumala angustata ; Butler, 1883, p. 408. 

 Danaida melissa angustata ; Fruhstorfer, 1910, p. 203. 



Poulton, pp. 604-609. 



At the time of my visit in February and March, 1925, this appeared to be 

 a very rare insect in Tonga, and only two specimens were seen, both at 

 Nukualofa, Togatabu ; Armstrong, in March 1926, did not meet with it, nor 

 did Mrs. Cockerell in July 1924. It was evidently commoner during Mathew's 

 visit in July 1884, since he captured four specimens at Nukualofa during the 

 single day on which he was there ; the difference may possibly be seasonal. 

 There do not appear to be any records from the other islands of the Tongan 



